I just don't think this is true. I used to really like the west indies but I got fed up of the baseless optimism that would come from them. I remember there was a time when people would genuinely say that jerome taylor and fidel edwards could be the best new ball partnership in the world. bravo was "the next lara" etc.
none of it has ever materialised, to sort of paraphrase a famous einstein quote "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." what on earth would make me think this is the group of west indies players that's going to turn things around?
Never heard anyone say that about Taylor & Edwards. At worst i've heard people have said they could be a top new-ball pair/best new ball pair for windies since Walsh/Ambrose retired.
This was not unrealistic. They were pretty much on the verge of this before injuries & player issues with the board (Taylor) slowed this down.
Bravo yes of course he has been compared to Lara because of his style and family connection to him etc, while he may not ever replicate Lara's effort, i still expect him to reach batting highlights at some point of recognized in his playing career as a top/consistent batsmen. The question is a matte of when really.
Overall Windies getting better depends solely on them sorting out themselves mentally, because quite obviously they have serious mental & tactical issues between transitioning between from t20 to 50 overs to tests.
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More than Sammy, Gayle is unfit for test cricket. Gayle can be easily tied down for longer periods and eventually he will gift you his wicket. He is one mighty overhyped player, who should not be playing test cricket. Where is Ramnaresh Sarwan? He was a very good test batsman. If Shiv Chanders can play tests even now, where is Sarwan? I also think Dwayne Bravo is a better batsman than what people perceive of him, and should be playing test cricket.
Yes Gayle now is potentially unfit for test cricket. He has always been technically inept, but has always managed some get around to some level & average 40+. You can say he was the mirror image of Sehwag.
However in the last year his technique has gotten worse in the longest format.
Unless he sorts it out in NZ (deep down i think he won't) windies need to axe him due to technical woes like India did with Sehwag.
Sarwan & Bravo would certainly strengthen the test team - but their form has been a worry. Fact is when Sars was recalled this year - he didn't look in terrific form & was rightfully axed - but his ability is not in question, he just need to score heavily domestically so that people can be convinced he is not finished.
Bravo problem is that despite his talent, he is not playing enough first-class cricket for the windies selectors to recall him to test cricket. Instead of playin for trinidad in the 4-day competition in recent years he goes off to the IPL. This is no fault of his since this is the dynamic of world cricket, but it would be hard for him to picked for test cricket of T20 performaces and so minimal red ball cricket.
And same with seeing India's batting performances at home too in recent times. Its so nauseating to see our batsmen bludgeon bowling attacks at home pitches.
